by Sharon Kleve
“Great, thanks.”
I replace the receiver and bite my lip. His accent is such a turn on. I can feel the heat rising within me and naughty thoughts running through my mind. I have to remember my number one rule, no business and pleasure at the hotel. “Red” is for the night time only. During the day, I’m plain old Irish Rita Lane. Nevertheless, I can’t help but imagine what could take place if Mr. Clarkson ever books “Red” for the night. I never saw a wedding ring on his beautiful elegant long fingers— that said in this day and age, the absence of a wedding ring means nothing. In my experience on the escort circuit around London, a man may still be fully committed in marriage to another woman with no wedding ring in sight. I turn my attention back to the two men in front of me. I flash a warm smile.
“Sixth floor gentlemen, Mr. Clarkson and Mr. James will be there.”
While Sophie goes for her break, I look up today’s entries for the conference room. Mr. Clarkson and Mr. James have a business meeting booked for one and a half hours, with the two men who just walked in. Lunch is booked for 12:30p.m. I’ll make it my business to come off reception, head to the kitchen staff, and offer to serve up lunch in twenty minutes.
After I load up the trolley with a selection of salmon and cream cheese, coronation chicken and ham salad baguettes, a cheese board, fruit, fresh orange juice and some beers, I glance in the mirror to check my appearance. I smooth over my thick waves of red hair pulled back into a low bun, and undo a top button on my shirt, then make my way to the lift entrance with the trolley. I knock on the conference room door firmly and wait for an answer.
“Come in.” A clipped English accent responds.
“Afternoon, gentlemen. Lunch is served.”
I make my way over to the round dark wood table and start to place the contents of the trolley onto the table. All four heads turn my way and look me up and down. I spy Richard Clarkson biting the corner of his lower lip. I’ll let him stew a bit longer. I decide to head over to him last.
Richard can’t keep his eyes off her, the flame red hair, pale skin, and piercing green eyes. She interests him. His thoughts move from business to pleasure. Rita that’s her name such an unusual name for a girl of her age. I’d say she’s around my age in her thirties. As Rita leans over and pours Richard a glass of fresh orange juice, he takes in her scent. Richard has a hard time focusing with Rita in the room his internal thoughts pollute his brain. He’s thrown totally off track by her beauty.
“Thank you, Rita.”
“My pleasure, Mr. Clarkson.”
“Gentlemen, can I get you anything else while I’m here?”
How about your phone number. Somehow, I’ve got to have a one to one conversation with her. Runs through Richard’s mind as he looks up at Rita standing next to him.
“No thanks, I think we’re fine at the moment.” Dan’s voice cuts in and interrupts Richard’s thoughts.
“As you wish, Mr. James. Please call reception if you change your mind.”
The three other men in the room and Richard watch Rita’s tall, slim but curvy silhouette sashay toward the lift doors. Her tight pencil skirt emphasising the curve of her behind, the sound of her high heels click along the marble flooring of the conference room as she walks to the lift, hypnotising Richard and every other man in the room.
Dan clears his throat loudly.
“Right. Where were we gentlemen?”
I stop off on the third floor on the way back down to reception, I should not be doing this— but I can’t help myself. I brought the master room swipe pass from reception. Sophie and I have access to it in case guests misplace their own card. Richard’s room is #311. I hurry along the corridor and slip into his room. Once inside I look around, I’m curious to know more about him. In the wardrobe are a few well cut black suits and ties, some casual jeans, jumpers and trainers—shoe size eleven I note. In the bathroom, I pick up his aftershave and pump a light spray. The fresh smell of Jean-Paul Gaultier meets my nostrils.
In a moment of madness, I do something crazy. Something that could cost me my job if I’m found out, but I take the risk. I slip off my red lace thong and leave it hanging in the bathroom on the radiator. Laughing to myself, I head back to the lift as fast as my heels can carry me. I wonder what Richard will do once he discovers a pair of my knickers in his bathroom.
Richard and Dan’s meeting with Mr. Reece and Mr. Jones dragged on a lot longer than they both hoped. Relieved to be out, both men loosen their ties in the lift on their way down to the third floor.
“What do you make of those two, Dan?”
“They’re OK, the English just have a different way with them— the men as well as women.”
“Hmm, so you’re happy to work with them?”
“Yeah sure, we’ve made a deal now Rich, there’s no going back. They’ll refer work our way in exchange for a cut of the fees, the rate is not too ball- breaking. And look at this place. London is where it all happens, it’s buzzing with business, so I have no doubt it’s worth putting up with their OCD.”
“Hmm you’re right. I’m beat it’s only 3:00 p.m. but I need some rest. How about we meet up later and head over to Soho for some entertainment?”
Dan raises his eyebrows at Richard, and then lets out a laugh as they exit the lift on the third floor.
“Sure, sounds like a plan.”
Both men depart into their own separate rooms. As Richard enters his room, he instantly notices the faint smell of his aftershave floating in the air. He thinks nothing of it, he blames his tiredness for playing tricks on him and dismisses the thought. He heads straight into the bathroom and switches on the shower, as steam fills the room he starts to relax and undress. Standing in front of the mirror he examines his jaw debating whether to have a shave today or in the morning, a red thong catches his eye.
“What the hell”
He says out loud, his voice echoes around the bathroom. He picks up the thong and examines it closely.
“This was not here when I left.”
He’s left baffled over the mystery underwear, standing half naked his brow creases as he racks his brain over how and why there’s a pair of women’s knickers in his bathroom. Tiredness gets the better of him again, he dismisses any further thinking on the mystery underwear and then places the thong back where he found it. He’ll think about it after he’s had some rest.
CHAPTER THREE
R is for Rita, R is for R.E.D
8:00p.m. Covent Garden, central London
Richard and Dan step out onto the bustling pavement, as they exit Covent Garden’s crowded tube station. They walk along the busy narrow pavement, weaving in and out of Londoners making their way around the buzzing area crammed of bars, restaurants and shops. After a five-minute walk, they turn off onto Upper Street and head down St Martin’s Lane toward one of London’s famous landmarks, that’s popular with male visitors, Stringfellows Gentlemen’s Club. Wrapped up in their winter coats, hats and scarves they rub their hands together to warm up.
Once inside, both men instantly relax at the sight of the soft lighting, plush and comfortable red high back chairs, black tables and glass chandeliers. On centre stage is a tall, tanned blonde dancer with long limbs. She twirls around and climbs up the pole in a provocative way. In just her black lace underwear and high heels she dances to Beyoncé’s provocative song Yonce.
“Now this is what I’m talking about Dan, beautiful girls and a classy venue.”
“Been a while since we set foot in this place Rich. Let’s see if we can get the booth we sat at years ago, for old times sake.”
Glancing around the dimmed room, Richard notices their booth is free. Both men head over and take a seat. From across the room a tall, slender waitress with legs that never seem to end struts over to their table, and introduces herself.
“Good evening gentlemen, I’m Pearl. I’ll be your waitress for the night. What can I get you?”
Both men smile as they take in Pearl’s beautiful chocolate co
loured skin, curves, and killer legs, as she stands in front of their table, in a tight red mini dress and black platform heels. Her dress sets off her skin tone perfectly. Her short pixie haircut emphasises her delicate features and pretty doll like face.
“I’ll have a Budweiser please.” Richard cuts in with a wide smile, not taking his eyes of Pearl’s assets.
“Same here, thanks”
From the dimly lit corner Richard and Dan enjoy the sights on centre stage. Song after song beautiful women of all races, shapes and sizes grace the stage in sexy outfits to showcase their skills on the pole. Before they know it, the champagne is flowing and both men are very tipsy, and surrounded by four lap dancers.
Slouching in his corner seat with his eyes half-closed, Richard looks around the sexy atmosphere in Stringfellows Gentlemen’s Club, the women on show are beautiful and he feels instantly aroused. He’s tipsy but nowhere near as drunk as Dan, who is now in deep conversation with their beautiful waitress Pearl.
Richard’s ears prick up and take note as the slow, sexy remixed version of Beyoncé’s Crazy in Love plays in the background. Richard smiles to himself, as he remembers the night he was dragged along to the movie theatre, by one of his short lived dates back in New York, to see Fifty Shades of Grey, the movie Beyoncé’s song featured in. As the beat kicks in and Beyoncé’s perfectly formed notes ring out over the catchy beat, he nods his head. Richard does a double take when he notices a tall, slender redhead grace the stage. She’s wearing a red lace matching bra and thong set. He thinks back to the thong he found in his bathroom, and his eyes open wide. He watches the woman on stage closely, her legs are extended with a pair of five-inch glass see-through heels. Her hair falls to her waist in waves of red flames and her skin is pale and delicate. She looks familiar to him, he narrows his eyes and studies her artistic ability to work the pole on centre stage, and then he remembers. It’s her the firecracker from the Park Hotel Dan nick named “Code Redhead.” Richard admires her from across the room and sips his drink. She has every man in the room under a spell. Her song choice, her slow deliberate sexy movements, the way she flicks her hair as she moves up and down the pole has Richard under a spell, and he is certain it’s her.
Leaning in to make himself heard above the music, and loud cheers as the red head on stage removes her bra, Richard turns to Dan.
“Dan, you’re not gonna believe this, take a look on centre stage.”
Dan follows Richard’s gaze to centre stage.
“No, way! What’s she doing here? She’s a receptionist for God sakes.”
Dan throws back his head with a genuine laugh and slaps his thigh.
“I don’t know what she’s doing. But it’s her right?”
“Sure looks like it to me from here, I’m drunk as a skunk, but I’d recognise Code Redhead anywhere.”
That night, Richard’s interest in the hotel receptionist piqued further, it is more than just a physical attraction to her beauty. He wants to know exactly why a beautiful woman like her decided to make lap dancing her vocation in life. Before his business trip to London is over, he promises himself he’d make it his business to find out more about Code Redhead.
The Next Morning
Rested from their all-night late drinking session at Stringfellows Gentlemen’s Club, Richard heads down to the communal gym area of the Park Hotel. He casually glances over at the reception as he exits the lift. The pretty blonde receptionist stops him on his way past.
“Good morning Mr. Clarkson, are you enjoying your stay?”
“Hey, good morning, yes it’s been lovely so far. I’ve not been to London for many years. I never caught your name, I’m Richard.”
“I’m Sophie, I’m glad you’re enjoying London. What are yours and Mr. James’ plans for today?”
Richard walks over to the reception area and decides to make further enquiries about the redhead, surly Sophie must know something about this intriguing woman.
“I’ll spend the day sightseeing around the city, it has been such a long time since I’ve seen it in broad day light. Dan, on the other hand, I think is sleeping off a heavy hangover most of the day.”
“Oh wow, so you guys had a good night out on the town, as they say?”
“We sure did, some of us more than others! Where’s your co-worker today, the redhead?”
“Oh Rita, she doesn’t work everyday, she has Tuesday off. She won’t be in until Wednesday. Hopefully I’ll do a good enough job for you both.”
“You’ll do just fine.”
“So, where are you guys from in the USA?”
“New York. We’re partners in an accountancy firm over there. We came over to meet with two potential London based partners to see if we can collaborate.”
“Nice and how did the meeting go?”
“Yeah, all seems to have gone well, we’re going to collaborate and partner up from across the Atlantic.”
“Congratulations. So I guess maybe we’ll be seeing more of you at the Park Hotel?”
“Thanks, and yes you sure will. So what time is Rita in Wednesday?”
With raised eyebrows, Sophie responds.
“Hmm … she’s on the late shift. Should I let her know you’re asking after her?”
A sly smile creeps across her face and Richard lowers his gaze to the marble floor.
“Ah Sophie, honestly it’s not what you think.” Richard responds with a nervous laugh, holding up both his hands.
“Hmm, it never is Mr. Clarkson. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
Sophie winks, which makes Richard blush and laugh even more.
“Well, I better get going and have my morning workout, and then pound the side walk like a true tourist.”
“Enjoy your day, sir.”
Richard waves goodbye and head over to the gym area. Once inside, he settles himself on a bench and thinks about what he saw last night. He looks in the mirror in the changing room, his handsome reflection stares back at him as he takes a trip down memory lane. Richard stands at six-foot-three inches tall and is athletically built. Rigorous gym workouts three times a week keep him in shape. He has caramel coloured smooth skin, a full goatee beard and low cut hair. Apart from his powerfully built physic, his large light brown eyes are his best stand out feature, framed with long thick dark lashes.
“Rita, Rita, Rita I’d be ever so pleased to meet ya” He sings back to his reflection as he undresses into his gym clothes.
CHAPTER FOUR
Never Judge a Book by its Cover
At 10:00a.m. I wake up with an aching body, one of the joys of a pole dancer’s life. Once I’m showered I sit at the breakfast bar and check my mobile phone for messages.
From: Sophie
To: Rita
Hey, guess who came down to reception asking for you today?
I’m curious to know who Sophie is talking about, I wonder if Mr Clarkson had suspicions over who was bold enough to flirt so openly with him, and leave their underwear in his bathroom. I can’t let Sophie become any wiser to my little flirtatious behaviour, I reply straight away and play innocent as I wait for the kettle to boil.
From: Rita
To: Sophie
Who…Let me guess that weird guest from the fifth floor?
From: Sophie
To: Rita
God no! Richard…aka Mr. sexy Clarkson.
I stare at my phone and smile I wonder if he knows? A rush of excitement runs through me, then I remember the rule. No business and pleasure. I put thoughts of work, Mr. Clarkson and my underwear out of my head. It’s my day off after all. As I move over to the counter to make myself the perfect cup of strong English breakfast tea, I notice the flyer for a book signing at Waterstones bookstore. One of my favourite authors, J.K Rowling is in town holding a book signing, for her new Harry Potter book. Today, I’ll indulge in a little me time. I’ll head over to the bookstore. I have an unusual vocation, but one of my favourite things to do is to read. The thought of five whole floors o
f books excites me.
The Park Hotel, London
Showered and dressed after his gym session, Richard heads out to explore the city. He walks toward Oxford Street at a slow leisurely pace. He takes in the view of Hyde Park across the busy road, as London’s iconic black taxi cabs race up and down Park Lane. The weather is fresh and chilly, brown and gold leaves crunch under his feet as he walks along the pavement.
I love London, and all it has to offer, Richard thinks to himself, as he stops for a moment to take out his camera. Like a true tourist in love with the city, he takes a picture of the old whitewashed houses, now converted into expensive flats along Park Lane. Like the board game Monopoly Park Lane in real life is one of the most expensive areas to own a property in London. The homes located along Park Lane are eye catching. The buildings fascinate him, with their grand steps leading up to the front doors with huge doorknockers and large bay windows. Maybe one day he thinks as he puts away his camera, and fantasies.
At the end of Park Lane Oxford Street is the next busy street, leading all the way up to Tottenham Court Road. Oxford Street is home to all the famous department stores. Once on the corner, Richard pauses as a rush of people exit the underground station. Lowering his hat, he marches through. I’m a New Yorker I know all about walking with purpose he laughs to himself.
Two hours later and five shopping bags of men’s clothes heavier, Richard finds himself at Piccadilly Circus. Instead of walking all the way up Oxford Street toward Tottenham Court Road, he headed east once he got to the Oxford Street underground station, and continued up Regent Street toward Piccadilly Circus passing many shops along the way.
He had a lot of fun as he browsed all the department stores on Oxford Street as he made his way up Regent Street to Piccadilly Circus. He also noticed the many promotions in restaurants and stores in time for Valentine’s Day, the next day.
As he stands outside Piccadilly Circus underground station, observing the wash of locals and tourists, he sips his coffee and reflects on his love life. The fact that he has nobody to call or Skype back in New York on the most romantic day of the year bothers him. This would make the second year Richard will spend Valentine’s Day on his own.